I think one of the best things the prequels established--especially through the books and such--is that Palpatine wasn't the entire root of the problem, that the corruption that was already fracturing the Republic was already there, he just took it and made it a hundred times worse.
The Outer Rim and even the Mid-Rim and Inner Rim worlds felt distanced from the Core Worlds, they felt disenfranchised and that there was never anything they were going to do that would help those worlds that needed it, that they didn't care about them. And they weren't wrong about that--so many Senators didn't care. One of the biggest points of the clone army was because the Republic citizens didn't want to have to fight for themselves, they wanted other people to do it for them!
And that's exactly why everything still goes to hell even once the Empire is torn down. Yes, the Rebellion finally garners enough strength to take him down, yes, they have the public's support, but it's a galaxy of trillions, possibly quadrillions, yet the Rebellion always seems so small? Then the New Republic is established, but they work so hard at not having even a single whiff of the Empire about them, Leia is disgusted the Senate still bickers and squabbles amongst itself, they still don't want to hear about the dangers lurking on the edges, they don't want to hear about the Empire (unless it's to romanticize it) because, yes, yes, everyone knows it's bad, but we're tired of hearing about it.
It's commentary on and a reflection of how the public in general is about these things, that the politicians and the Jedi and the clones are the exciting part of the story, that they can shape many things in the galaxy, but that the true heart of the galaxy's path depends on the citizens of the public-in-general. And they keep making the same mistakes because THEY NEVER LEARNED FROM THEM.
Now that you mention it, it is strange she doesn’t get the Jedi to testify on her behalf. And of course, Palpatine sees this as exactly the opportunity he can’t pass up.
I have little doubt that Palpatine directly encouraged her/discouraged her from bringing the Jedi in, despite that Valorum sent them there himself, Valorum sent that order, why wouldn't they be called in to testify??? And the thing is, it's not until a decade later that Padme will have any idea that Palpatine did it on purpose or where it was going to lead--because she was so angry at Valorum for seeming to sit on his hands and do nothing in the face of her planet being attacked, despite that she brought no proof beyond her own word. Not even Palpatine himself stands up and says, "Yes, this is happening."
She's so wound up over her feelings (perfectly understandable and reasonable feelings, given that her people are being put into camps and dying!) that she doesn't have a calm enough head to wade into these politics and she directly contributes to Palpatine's rise to power.
That said, of course it's not Padme's fault. Both because it's PALPATINE'S FAULT NOBODY ELSE'S but also because that's a guy who would have found another way, if it weren't through getting Valorum voted out. And the thing was, it can't have just been the one issue, Valorum had to be teetering on the edge for awhile, if this one instance was enough to get him voted out.
Palpatine had already put those pieces into place, too, no doubt.
no subject
The Outer Rim and even the Mid-Rim and Inner Rim worlds felt distanced from the Core Worlds, they felt disenfranchised and that there was never anything they were going to do that would help those worlds that needed it, that they didn't care about them. And they weren't wrong about that--so many Senators didn't care. One of the biggest points of the clone army was because the Republic citizens didn't want to have to fight for themselves, they wanted other people to do it for them!
And that's exactly why everything still goes to hell even once the Empire is torn down. Yes, the Rebellion finally garners enough strength to take him down, yes, they have the public's support, but it's a galaxy of trillions, possibly quadrillions, yet the Rebellion always seems so small? Then the New Republic is established, but they work so hard at not having even a single whiff of the Empire about them, Leia is disgusted the Senate still bickers and squabbles amongst itself, they still don't want to hear about the dangers lurking on the edges, they don't want to hear about the Empire (unless it's to romanticize it) because, yes, yes, everyone knows it's bad, but we're tired of hearing about it.
It's commentary on and a reflection of how the public in general is about these things, that the politicians and the Jedi and the clones are the exciting part of the story, that they can shape many things in the galaxy, but that the true heart of the galaxy's path depends on the citizens of the public-in-general. And they keep making the same mistakes because THEY NEVER LEARNED FROM THEM.
Now that you mention it, it is strange she doesn’t get the Jedi to testify on her behalf. And of course, Palpatine sees this as exactly the opportunity he can’t pass up.
I have little doubt that Palpatine directly encouraged her/discouraged her from bringing the Jedi in, despite that Valorum sent them there himself, Valorum sent that order, why wouldn't they be called in to testify??? And the thing is, it's not until a decade later that Padme will have any idea that Palpatine did it on purpose or where it was going to lead--because she was so angry at Valorum for seeming to sit on his hands and do nothing in the face of her planet being attacked, despite that she brought no proof beyond her own word. Not even Palpatine himself stands up and says, "Yes, this is happening."
She's so wound up over her feelings (perfectly understandable and reasonable feelings, given that her people are being put into camps and dying!) that she doesn't have a calm enough head to wade into these politics and she directly contributes to Palpatine's rise to power.
That said, of course it's not Padme's fault. Both because it's PALPATINE'S FAULT NOBODY ELSE'S but also because that's a guy who would have found another way, if it weren't through getting Valorum voted out. And the thing was, it can't have just been the one issue, Valorum had to be teetering on the edge for awhile, if this one instance was enough to get him voted out.
Palpatine had already put those pieces into place, too, no doubt.